Interim Field Evaluation: Get-Go™ Calf Program
Study Period: October 2025 – June 2026 (ongoing)
Dataset Presented: Updated through latest data 4-2026
Raising healthy, high-performing calves starts from day one—and every decision you make early on has a ripple effect all the way to weaning and beyond. From colostrum management to feeding programs, today’s producers are looking for practical ways to improve average daily gain (ADG), support calf health, and get more consistency across the group—without overcomplicating their routine or increasing feed costs.
That’s where the ATR Thrive Get-Go™ calf program comes in. Designed to support calves right from the first feeding, Get-Go™ products work alongside your existing milk replacer program to help calves get more out of what they’re already consuming. In this ongoing field evaluation, we’re taking a real-world look at how calves perform when using Get-Go™ FM, MR+, and targeted support with Revive, compared to a standard calf feeding program.
Below is the latest preliminary data from our trial with University of Missouri—broken down in a way that’s easy to understand and focused on what matters most to you: growth, efficiency, and consistency.
Program Description
Treatment group:
- Get-Go™ FM administered at first feeding (Day 1)
- Get-Go™ MR+ included in milk replacer (5 g/day; 2.5 g per feeding)
- Get-Go™ Revive administered selectively to clinically challenged calves
Control group:
- Standard milk replacer program without additives
Animals
Control: n ≈ 37
Treatment: n ≈ 34
Baseline dataset: n = 71
Performance subset: n = 59
Baseline Characteristics
- Birth Weight (lb): Control 83.9 | Treatment 80.9
- Colostrum Brix (%): Control 27.6 | Treatment 25.9
- Serum Total Protein (g/dL): Control 6.1 | Treatment 6.4
What this means:
Passive Transfer Breakthrough
One of the most compelling findings in this trial is the passive transfer response. Despite receiving lower colostrum Brix values (25.9 vs. 27.6), treatment calves achieved higher serum total protein levels (6.4 vs. 6.1).
That matters because passive transfer is the foundation of calf immunity, health, and early performance.
What makes Get-Go™ FM truly unique is this: these results were achieved without adding IgG antibodies. Traditionally, stronger passive transfer can only be purchased through added colostrum replacers, supplements, or external antibody sources.
Get-Go™ FM appears to help the calf utilize the immunity already present in maternal colostrum more effectively.
There is currently no known competing product demonstrating improved passive transfer without supplemental IgG. That places Get-Go™ FM in a category of its own.
For producers, this means a stronger start, improved resilience, and better lifetime potential—without changing the colostrum program.
Growth Performance (Observed Data)
- Weaning Weight (lb): Control 167 | Treatment 173
- ADG (lb/day): Control 1.38 | Treatment 1.51
- Variance (ADG): Control 0.02876 | Treatment 0.01870
What this means on-farm:
- +0.13 lb/day ADG (about 9–10% better growth)
- +6 lb heavier at weaning
- More uniform calves (about 35% less variation)
In simple terms: calves on the Get-Go™ program grew faster and more evenly.
Feeding Context
- Milk replacer: 3 qt twice daily (6 qt/day)
- Approximate intake: ~1.6 lb powder/day at ~12.9% solids
Takeaway:
Calves weren’t eating more—they were just getting more out of what they were already fed.
Energy Supply Context
- Milk replacer provided approximately 3,200 kcal/day
Takeaway:
- Calves had plenty of energy
- Growth rates matched what you’d expect from this feeding level
- The extra gain didn’t come from more calories
Key Point:
Improved growth happened without increasing feed, pointing toward better feed efficiency.
Milk Replacer Composition Context
- Milk replacer formulation: approximately 24% protein and 20% fat (24:20 P:F)
Takeaway:
- This was a standard feeding program
- Not an aggressive or high-input system
- Results weren’t driven by pushing more nutrition
Economic Consideration (Incremental)
- Get-Go™ FM: $1.95
- Get-Go™ MR+: ~$21.84
- Total: ~$23.79 per calf
Additional gain: ~7.3 lb
Value range:
- $3.00/lb → $21.84
- $4.50/lb → $32.76
What this means:
You’re roughly breaking even—or coming out ahead—on weight gain alone. That doesn’t even factor in potential health benefits or long-term performance.
What Could Be Driving the Results?
Based on the data, a few likely factors include:
- Better feed efficiency (calves using nutrients more effectively)
- Stronger immunity from improved passive transfer
- Fewer underlying health challenges slowing calves down
These are working theories based on what we’re seeing in the field.
Expanded Data Interpretation
The updated dataset continues to show a clear pattern:
- ADG improvement: +0.13 lb/day (~9–10%)
- Total gain advantage: ~+7–8 lb
- Treatment calves started ~3 lb lighter
- Treatment calves finished ~6 lb heavier
- More consistency across the group
Bottom line:
This isn’t a one-off result—it’s consistent and repeatable under real farm conditions.
Limitations
- No mortality observed in either group
- Can’t evaluate impact on death loss or sickness rates yet
Conclusion
Even starting lighter and with slightly lower colostrum quality, calves on the ATR Thrive Get-Go™ program outperformed the control group in growth, efficiency, and consistency.
For producers, that means:
- Faster-growing calves
- More uniform groups
- Better return from the same feeding program
And the trial is still ongoing—so there’s more to come.
